Fight the Good Fight

Elliot found Heimdall where he usually was, standing near the shore of Asgard's ocean. She took her time approaching him from behind, rehearsing what she was going to say to him.

He did the work for her. "You wish for my protection," he assumed, his voice amused. "For the endless, guaranteed safety of your family."

She froze mid-step, staring at his armored back. "I didn't know you could read minds," Elliot said. She nervously straightened up. "But yes."

Heimdall let out a deep sigh, his shoulders falling. "I do not read minds, Elliot. I simply know you very well, as you are easy to read." He turned to face her. "Your family is safe."

"That's not enough." She shook her head. "I know now that I'm connected to Loki forever, or at least until Thanos is dead. And what if he sends someone to Earth to try to hurt them? Some way to lure me out of hiding to capture me and bring Loki down? It's perfect bait."

Heimdall said nothing in response, only frowned a little. "Until Thanos is dead?" he repeated, his voice deadpan. "I did not know you intended to kill him."

Elliot smiled at the gatekeeper. "Don't play games, Heimdall. It's not in your character. You know I'm jetting off tonight. But until Thanos is dead, my family's in danger and I would just really appreciate it if you kept an eye on them. Shielded them from any harm. I made a huge choice coming here."

"If I recall correctly, you did not have a choice. It was either return to Asgard, or be killed by Thanos' agents," Heimdall responded, arching one dark eyebrow. "You did not truly have a choice."

"Yes, I did," Elliot responded calmly to hide her growing anger. "I could have refused to get in with Jerry and found my own way there."

"You would not. Thanos knew that you were going to get in that car. On Midgard, you were vulnerable. Weak. Alone, and without direction." Heimdall was pointing out facts that Elliot already knew, and it irritated her. All she wanted was Heimdall's guarantee that he would at least keep a watchful eye on her family.

"Is that a no, then?"

Heimdall turned his gaze from her, staring past her at Asgard's palace. "No, it is not a no. But remember, Elliot. This was always meant to be. The choices you made were pre-destined by a force stronger than I. You were meant to be here as your family was meant to remain on Midgard." His golden eyes softened a little in the darkness. "There is nothing you could have done."

His words held a deeper meaning to them, and she was able to glean that from the way he looked at her. Elliot smiled and let out a soft chuckle. "You're telling me that from the moment I came into the world, some thing called Fate tapped me on the shoulder and decided that I was going to find myself on Asgard."

"Yes." He was absolutely serious, and Elliot wanted to laugh again. But instead she kept quiet and sighed, looking past Heimdall's armor at the ocean, watching as the waves moved gently against the wind.

"Well, if that's the way things have to be, I guess. So...then that is a yes?"

"Yes," he said again, turning to face the sea. "I will watch over your family until the end of their days, Elliot. Now go. Loki is waiting for you."

Knowledge of all things, Elliot thought, scowling to herself as she turned to return to the palace. That's mildly creepy.

"And be safe," Heimdall called softly from behind. "I wish for nothing bad to befall you."

She glanced at him over her shoulder, but he was still facing the sea. She smiled, and then walked to her horse to begin the ride back to the palace.

Loki was sitting at the edge of his bed, waiting for her when she entered. He stood quickly, turning to face her, and eyed her choice of clothing with approval. She changed into the lightest tunic and pants she could find in her drawer. Eira helped her with reluctance, but once Elliot explained why she was journeying with Loki, finally gave in.

Elliot slipped on her quiver and fingered her bow, unsure of what to do. "I'm finished. Are we leaving now?"

"Yes," Loki said quietly, slipping on his wrist armor. "After I've worked some magic on your mortal body." She looked him up and down, noticing that he had slipped back into his armor that she'd seen on Earth.

"Won't you be warm?" she asked, indicating to the heavy leather he wore.

Loki glanced at her, fighting a smile. "I naturally have a lower body temperature than most. Frost Giant blood, if you recall correctly."

"I forgot," Elliot admitted, taking several steps closer to him. "That Frost Giant thing, I mean. If you never reminded me of it, I wouldn't know you were a Frost Giant at all." She examined the single-shoulder piece with interest. "I really wouldn't."

Loki had finished slipping on the other wrist guard and stared at her. "Truly?"

Elliot glanced at him, frowning. "Well, yeah. You're a Frost Giant, I'm secretly a blond. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing."

Elliot was smart, as she'd gone to a top university and been recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D., but she wasn't smart enough to pick up on the fact that with those few words, she had managed to quell Loki's worries about his true nature. Throughout their relationship, she practically ignored the fact that he was truly a Frost Giant, born on Jotunheim and raised as an Asgardian. For the most part, she didn't care about his true form. Albeit, she'd never truly seen him, but Loki had a feeling that if he ever showed her, it wouldn't phase her.

It was one of the interesting things about her that he couldn't quite figure out. Heimdall had seen it, and for a moment, as he was being incased in ice, he saw pure, unadulterated fear.

"Speaking of which," Elliot muttered, grabbing a lock of her hair to examine it. "Why hasn't this dark color faded away yet?" It'd been months since she'd dyed it. By now, she should be back to her natural blond color. "Asgardian magic?" Either way, she liked it.

Loki extended one hand and reached for the lock of her hair, his fingers massaging the tip. "It suits you," he admitted quietly. "I do not see why you would wish to change the color of your hair, but it suits you. Now, magic." His voice became stern. "Two spells: one to keep your body from being crushed while we travel through the void, and the other, simply for protection in the event that fire demons find us and are unfriendly. Unfortunately, you are my charge and I am bound by Thor and Frigga to keep you safe."

He expected her to protest, to say that she was fine on her own, but Elliot stared up at him expectantly, waiting for him to work his magic. She was independent, that was for sure, but considering how it was the first time she was traveling to another realm, she figured that having a master of magic on her side wouldn't hurt.

Funny, she thought, watching Loki raise one hand. Few months ago and I would have itched to kill him instead.

At the last minute, he paused, his expression thoughtful. Elliot's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Loki's lips curled into a wholly masculine smile, and instead of pressing his hand to her abdomen like he usually did, brought his hand upwards to curl around the column of her neck. Subconsciously, she leaned into his hand, and watched his face as he closed the distance between them.

When he kissed her, his lips cold and smooth, she felt the familiar spreading of magic throughout the veins. She resisted the urge to shiver - that would probably give him the wrong impression. But she could not stop a quiet sigh from escaping her and she relaxed, enjoying the sensation.

When it was over, Loki's eyes twinkled with mischief. "An experiment," he explained, watching her eyes flutter open. "To see if my transfer of magic is strictly limited."

Elliot felt her cheeks warm. "It isn't," she muttered. "Good for you."

So that was that, then. He'd kissed her twice, and she responded twice. Safe to say that there was something going on between them now. It'd been building for months, and she'd picked up on it a few times, but never acted. Maybe since they were traveling to Muspelheim with no idea what to expect, it was time to throw caution to the wind.

Not that it was truly a bad thing.

She was still reflecting on the kiss when Loki took her hand and led her to the open doors, revealing his balcony. Elliot stepped outside into the cool night air, her eyes sweeping the city of Asgard, just in case she didn't return. She wanted to burn the image of the city into her memory, peaceful and quiet, still golden and gleaming in the light of the swirls of pink dust in the sky.

No, I'll be fine, she thought firmly, turning her head a little to smile at Loki, who was watching her. Master of magic on my side and all.

She was still smiling when Asgard disappeared.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And thank you all SO SO much for reading and reviewing. The next one will be up sometime after the New Year. Enjoy the holidays! You guys are the best, and I hope you'll like what I have written.

lightofthenine xxx